New Dr. Theo and Friedl Schöller research laboratory “Future of Work” established
To further advance research on digitization at FAU, the Theo and Friedl Schöller Foundation is funding the establishment of a research lab in business informatics with 200,000 euros annually for a period of six years. At the same time, the foundation is extending its support for the Dr. Theo and Friedl Schöller Research Center for Business and Society at FAU’s Department of Economics and Social Sciences (WiSo). It is providing 175,000 euros annually for this purpose, also for six years.
New research lab for digital working
The corona pandemic of the past two years has once again impressively demonstrated how important digitization is for the future of work. “We already addressed this issue five years ago with the Schöller Foundation Chair for Business Informatics, in particular Digitalization in Business and Society,” explains Rainer Hattenberger, Chairman of the Theo and Friedl Schöller Foundation. “It therefore made sense for us to remain involved in this area in the coming years.”
Now that the endowed chair will be made permanent by FAU starting in February, the foundation is funding the Dr. Theo and Friedl Schöller Research Laboratory at the chair. “On the one hand, the foundation enables us to build up a laboratory infrastructure to research technology-driven questions about the future of work. On the other hand, it also allows us to fund projects by doctoral students,” says Prof. Dr. Sven Laumer, holder of the Schöller Foundation Chair in Information Systems.
One focus of the lab will also be on knowledge transfer: Cooperations with companies from the region are to be intensified and formats established to make the knowledge gained in the lab accessible to companies in the region.
Research center extended again
At the same time, the Schöller Foundation continues its support of the Dr. Theo and Friedl Schöller Research Center for Business and Society – it is the reward for 12 years of successful work. “The goal of the research center is to network WiSo even better internationally. With the 17 senior fellows and 35 fellows, the research center has succeeded excellently,” explains Rainer Hattenberger.
Prof. Dr. Michael Amberg, Director of the Dr. Theo and Friedl Schöller Research Center, is delighted about the third funding commitment: “Over the past twelve years, we have been able to complete many exciting projects with renowned colleagues from all over the world. We are very grateful to be able to continue this work in the future.”
The research center awards senior fellowships to established top scientists and fellowships to emerging young researchers from Germany and abroad. The fellowships allow the researchers to work on projects together with professors from the Department of Economics and Social Sciences. In this scientific network, the researchers work in two directions: They bring their expertise to Franconia and carry the thematic focus, which is reflected in the research center, from Nuremberg out into the world.
About the Foundation
The Theo and Friedl Schöller Foundation supports medical as well as economic research. Its activities have helped FAU and Erlangen University Hospital to carry out numerous projects in recent years.
Further information
Dr. Theo and Friedl Schöller Research Laboratory at FAU
Prof. Dr. Sven Laumer
Tel.: 0911 5302 96476
sven.laumer@fau.de
Dr. Theo and Friedl Schöller Research Center for Economy and Society at FAU
Prof. Dr. Michael Amberg
Tel.: 0911/5302-801
info@schoeller-forschungszentrum.de